Basketball: Breakers close to deal with Boucher

Dillon Boucher. Photo / Getty Images

The Breakers are on the verge of re-signing defensive powerhouse Dillon Boucher for next year's ANBL.

Breakers general manager Richard Clarke said Boucher - one of three players shortlisted for this season's defensive player of the year title - would be coming back.

That was news to Boucher, who said negotiations were still ongoing. However, with the free-agency period to begin when the clubs for next season's competition are confirmed today, both sides are keen to reach an agreement as soon as possible.

"It is really just [contract] wordings and stuff like that," Boucher said.

"It is pretty close to being done."

The 34-year-old Boucher's desire for a two-year deal is likely to be the only sticking point.

The former Tall Blacks standout is to fly out to Melbourne tomorrow to attend the NBL's awards dinner.

That commitment will see him miss Harbour Heat's marquee NZNBL clash against Wellington Saints at the NSEC tomorrow night.

"To be honest I wasn't that keen to go," Boucher said.

However, if he does pick up a gong it will be just reward for a season which he began as a bench player and ended as one of the Breakers' most consistent starters.

Other roster decisions at the club could now swing on the status of centre Rick Rickert's citizenship application.

If Rickert can be signed as a naturalised player it would free up another import spot and possibly some points under the salary cap.

"It becomes quite a key point in terms of the overall mix so we are waiting to get some more information on that, but we are already talking to him about coming back," said Clarke.

The return of a Sydney club is being tipped as the major announcement to come out of today's confirmation of the league make-up for the 2010/11 season.

Clarke said he was expecting the Breakers to be confirmed in either an eight or nine-team competition.

Meanwhile, star Breakers shooting guard Kirk Penney's planned trip to America for a spell in the NBA Development League could be delayed.

Penney is expected to depart soon for a trip that will include his wedding to US volleyball player Andra Jeffers.

"He is ideally going next week but he is having some visa issues at the moment," Clarke said.